100 Percent Soccer: How to watch Landon Donovan make his Liga MX debut this weekend (maybe)

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‘I don’t believe in walls,’ former U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan told about 7,000 fans when he was introduced as a new member of Mexico’s Club Leon in mid-January. ‘When I was young, I started playing soccer with Mexicans. And it was always a dream of mine to play in Mexico. And now I’m here.’ (Photo by Gustavo Becerra, AFP/Getty Images)

Donovan’s reported salary is $185,000 a month, but it’s likely the challenge rather than the cash that’s the major attraction. It’s much the same reason he spent two separate loan spells at Premier League club Everton late in his long and storied MLS career.

Despite once infamously spotted relieving himself in Mexico during a U.S. men’s national team practice, Donovan is well-regarded in the country.

“I don’t believe in walls,” Donovan told about 7,000 fans when he was introduced in mid-January in a jab at President Donald Trump. “And when I was young, I started playing soccer with Mexicans. And it was always a dream of mine to play in Mexico. And now I’m here, and I’m here to help you all win a trophy, another championship.”

Club Leon was already emerging as a potential title contender, with or without Donovan.

The seven-time champion currently sits mid-table with a 2-1-2 record, although Club Leon is one of just four Liga MX teams to have conceded goals in the double digits already.

But it has a potent offense, too, which includes 29-year-old Giles Barnes, who was a top scorer for the Houston Dynamo in 2013 and 2014, but contributed just three goals last MLS season for Orlando City SC.

Leon’s coach has indicated Donovan could well see his first minutes this weekend, presumably off the bench.

Donovan has acknowledged the fear of failure occurred to him before he signed with Club Leon. And overcoming that might well have been a major reason for him to come out of retirement (again).

He's Back! The #USMNT legend Landon Donovan has come out of retirement to join Liga MX side Club Leon. Wear the Dos-a-Cero jersey & support the newest member of the Green and Whites.

“I know that if I commit myself to this there is no chance of failure, so it’s incumbent on me to make sure I commit myself,” he was quoted as saying.

“If I come and do it halfway, I could fail,” Donovan added. “If I do it three-quarters of the way with my age, I could fail. If I do it all-in with all my heart, I won’t fail.”

But just how much Donovan is capable of contributing to Club Leon remains a big question mark, even among those who know him well.

“Nothing (usually) surprises me with Landon, but that did surprise me,” said former Galaxy coach Dave Sarachan. “I just hope he gets what he wants. I will be very curious just like everyone else to see what he looks like considering the layoff, his age and all the rest.

“If there’s a guy who can pull it off physically,” Sarachan added, “it’s a guy like Landon. Stay tuned.”

Etc.

Galaxy fans can judge for themselves how the club’s offseason rebuilding project is progressing on Saturday when the club plays its first public preseason game at StubHub Center against New York FC (the 7 p.m. game will be streamed live at lagalaxy.com). Fans will be tested to put faces to the numerous new names; the Galaxy fielded no fewer than 33 players last weekend in a 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake. … StubHub Center will host a game between seven-time Liga MX champion Pumas UNAM and Monarcas Morelia on March 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $32 and go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. … LAFC has signed 23-year-old midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye from USL champion Louisville City FC.

Veteran journalist Nick Green is the beat reporter for the cities of Torrance, Carson and Lomita and also covers the South Bay's rapidly growing craft beer industry for the Daily Breeze. He has worked for newspapers on the West Coast since graduating in 1987 from the University of Washington and lives in Old Torrance with his wife and two cats. Follow him on Twitter @NickGreen007 and @BeerGogglesLA.